Tuscany is everything you want from an Italian holiday, and more

Sunsets, spaghetti and lots of Gucci

I love Tuscany for the memories it evokes. An afternoon spent on a breezy loggia. Lazy lunches with family. Walking down its dandelion-dotted streets. Watching a jet make a neat line against its skyline scattered with cypress trees. The Marlboro man on his tractor, farming. Hunters shooing their catch in the woods and dogs chasing their master’s prey. For me, Tuscany is right out of a storybook. My love affair with Italy began as a child. While growing up, my parents took us there for many holidays. I remember thinking of the landscape as a charming set from a Fellini movie. Even now, I visit Tuscany at least once a year and it’s a mix of pleasure and work because our company does business with Italian food brands. Here’s what you should do when you’re in town:

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Dig into Tuscan cuisine

Simple and hearty—that’s Italian cuisine for you. From small eateries on the sidewalk to noteworthy restaurants, Italy is the destination for food lovers. Instead of trying the regular pasta, give Tuscan favourite ribollita a chance—it’s a wholesome soup made with bread and vegetables. Then there is spaghetti alle vongole, a pasta dish served with fresh clams. I also recommend a well-cooked aglio olio. Your trip is incomplete without walking through the weekly farmers’ markets and relishing a platter of Italian cheeses.

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Visit an ancient pharmacy

Florence is home to Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, the oldest pharmacy in the world. Many of Santa Maria Novella’s products have become a part of history, like their potpourri that is still handcrafted in large terracotta vats. The first eau de cologne originated here. End your day with a cup of tea and shop for lots of perfumes and colognes here. My favourite is their rose cologne and Acqua di Gigli.

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Go to the Uffizi and Gucci Museo

Resplendent with art and history, the Uffizi (Galleryuffizi.com) is one of my favourite museums. I love its secret Vassari corridor. Ambling through palazzo strozzi, visit the Gucci Museo (Guccimuseo.com). The museum also houses a café, bookstore and gift shop.

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Make days trips

Make smaller trips to Siena, San Gimignano and Lucca—these medieval, walled cities are a must-visit if you are in Tuscany. Forte dei Marmi, a sea town in Lucca, is known to have lured Michelangelo, Puccini and Henry Moore.

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What to experience

Nothing justifies enjoying Tuscany more than soaking in its beautiful sunsets, watching the day pass by. I like to simply marvel at the vibrant marquetry of green, with acres of vineyards and olive trees. The town of Fiesole has the best views of Florence; end a day here with dinner at La Reggia degli Etruschi (Lareggiadeglietruschi.com), one of the most panoramic terraces in the region. Do not leave the restaurant without trying the smoked tuna-fish carpaccio and zucchini flan.